Michigan sees 1,792% increase in whooping cough: What parents should know

Another highly contagious vaccine-preventable illness is on the rise in Michigan as uptake for decades-old shots has declined in recent years.

Pertussis, a respiratory illness also known as whooping cough, sickened 2,081 residents in 2024. It was the third consecutive annual increase, and a 19-fold jump from the 110 cases reported in 2023.